“Yes. I do.”
I told Patrick things about me. Things that could gain my benefit with him. Sometimes I regret telling him. It makes him feel like he really knows me, and he doesn’t. Sometimes I miss being with someone who really knows me. That was Gabriel. I sometimes miss him. Then came Hugo. I miss him too. Why can’t the world just go the way I want it to? Why must I force it myself? It gets tiring. Fun, but tiring.
We are at the Gala for the Anti-Bullying and Suicide Prevention charity created by the Fairchild family. All these years William Fairchild had been a mystery after he left New York. Now his widow has come and everyone is anxious to meet the woman who snagged him just before his death.
“What are you smiling about?” Patrick snaps me out of my thoughts.
“About you. How much I love you,” I lie.
“And I love you. I don’t know how I could get through this without you.”
“I am here to heal your pain.”
“Yes. Scarlett has always been the light of the darkness.” Chad’s voice is a thorn at my side, and I’m shocked to see him here.
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s what I would like to know.” Wayne Michelson holds nothing back in showing his disdain for his own son.
“Hello, Dad. Mom.” Chad’s mother gives him a polite smile but says nothing further.
Chad is dressed in a black tux, blonde hair slicked back, but still looks high as a kite.
“I received an invitation,” Chad gleams.
“Really?” I ask shocked.
“Hello.” We turn our heads and see Noel, who is accompanying his mother. With that woman, he will never have a girlfriend.
“Constance, how’s life?” I ask and her smile tightens.
Her real name is Cora, but she changed it when she married Noel’s father.
“Scarlett.”
“Well, well. It’s as if this is a family reunion,” Chad slyly says and Noel glares at him.
“What the hell?” Patrick blurts out. I follow his furious stare and I am shocked to see Hugo and the gang enter the golden decorated ballroom. Juliet is holding his hand like a dutiful girlfriend and it makes me want to throw up. Hugo and Juliet separate themselves from the group and make their way toward us. Jordana, Poppy, Cody, and some boy I have never met before have these grins sprawled on their faces as they watch from a distance. I hold on tight to Patrick’s arm as Hugo and Juliet stand only a few feet away.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Patrick asks.
“I was invited,” Hugo says.
“Hugo.” Now Jonathan Mandrake and his wife Kelly are here. What the hell is this? Why is everyone here and why does everyone find the need to come over toward us?
“Father. Kelly.”
Kelly looks uncomfortable in her black gown as Jonathan’s jaw twitches at the smirk placed on his son’s face towards his wife.
“My Hugo, this is very surprising,” I say. “Juliet, I see you’re still here.”
“Yes, and I see your eye is feeling much better.” Juliet smiles and I would love to carve into it.
“Who the hell would invite a rapist?” Patrick asks again.
“A rapist? I have no idea, but me? Well, that would be the hostess of the evening.” Hugo looks right at me when he says it and I can’t help but to snicker.
“You? You know William Fairchild’s widow?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yes. She happens to be a dear close friend of the family.”
“She is?” Jonathan asks, unsure of this new information.
Hugo just grins along with Juliet and for the first time I’m becoming uncomfortably anxious.
“Yes.”
“Noel, let’s go.” Constance is begging to not be seen with us. Ever since Karlie Dale, all our parents can’t help but to look at each other with disdain, yet they still find the need to come around to each other at events like this. It is rare they all are at the same event. For all of us actually, but maybe this is twisted fate. I have no problem with that, but I do with the smiles on Hugo’s and this trollop’s faces.
“I’m so happy you all came.” That voice. I know that voice. Noel and Chad both look to have lost the coloration of their skin. Constance’s mouth has dropped along with Wayne Michelson’s. As I turn my head, I see the shocked look on Jonathan’s face and then I turn around until I am met with the face of the familiar voice.
What. The. Fuck.
HUGO
As predicted, they all look shocked and unpleasant except for Scarlett who is focusing on remaining calm.
“Do you all know each other?” a confused Patrick asks.
“Yes,” Karlie answers. “Chad, Noel, Scarlett and I all went to high school together.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Patrick says to a still stunned Scarlett.
“We ran in different circles… but still shared a common factor, didn’t we, Scarlett?”
Patrick’s brow creases as he looks at Scarlett who glances at me.
“We all had English together,” Karlie says nonchalantly and approaches the nervous crowd. “I’m so glad you all could come tonight.”
“Y-you,” Noel stammers, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. “You’re William Fairchild’s widow?”
“Yeah. William and I met at a bar.” She laughs about it. “Rumors are true, but there are crazier stories about couples finding each other in this town.”
“Yes, some through fate… some through deceit,” I add on and get a few daggers thrown my way.
Patrick clears his throat and extends his hand to Karlie. “Well, it’s very lovely to meet you, Mrs. Fairchild. Patrick Tow–”
“Townsend,” Karlie finishes for him. “Scarlett’s fiancé. Congratulations… Scarlett always had the boys going crazy over her. It’s good she finally found someone. You are a lucky man.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Noel, let’s go,” Noel’s mother says.
“Do enjoy the party, Mrs. Rochester,” Karlie says, her eyes pierced in her. “We never really got to meet. I never got to meet Mr. Michelson either.” She looks at Chad’s father. “But of course I do know you, Mr. Mandrake.” Now she faces my father and a confused Kelly. “It’s always good to see you.”
The awkward silence continues until Karlie addresses Patrick again. “They all contributed to my scholarship. A special donation they had for me. I had no choice but to take it; it was so generous.”
“That’s very nice,” Patrick says but I’m sure he doesn’t care. He’s too focused on imagining my death as his eyes drag towards me. But Karlie didn’t announce that to them for comfort. She announced it to let them know that she didn’t forget about them either. Sure their children are the ones that inflicted the pain… but they nurtured them. They looked the other way. They saved them and left her for dead. It is only fair that they all perish.
“Enjoy the party.” She walks away like the badass she is.
CODY
“This is better than Shark Week,” Jordana says as we all stare at the Karlie Dale introduction unfold. The Rochesters quickly move away from the crowd, and Chad’s dad and Hugo’s dad start to whisper to each other while Mrs. Michelson distracts a confused Mrs. Mandrake. Scarlett just smiles at her fiancé and acts like nothing is wrong, while Chad is probably needing his next line of cocaine. All of them with their teeth sharpened and their eyes big, looking at Karlie as she glides through the ballroom greeting all her exes. Karlie Dale’s time with William Fairchild has done her justice. She looks the part. She is the part. She’s money.
“This is Shark Week,” I finally say.
“Poppy, you look very gorgeous.” Jordana and I look at each other listening to Jaz complimenting Poppy.
Poppy giggles and blushes. “Thanks. You’re gorgeous too.”
“I like the pink.”
“Really?” Poppy’s grin grows big.
“Yes. Very. The color works perfectly with your soft porcelain skin.” His accent makes that com
ment sound better than it’s supposed to be. “Would you like to dance?”
“I love to dance.” Poppy’s eyes are shining bright as he leads her off to the dance floor.
“I think our Poppy might be in love,” Jordana says. “Good, she can keep herself busy through this inevitable doom we are going to be entering.”
“You think things are gonna get worse from here?” I ask.
“Yep. Hopefully things just get worse before they get immensely better. At least that’s what happy people tell me.”
I give her the side eye. “You know happy people?”
She looks at me. “On TV.”
I laugh. Jordana can be a real jerk sometimes, but she has her moments. Like now.
“Don’t look now, but your sexy as hell one time chance at a sexual livelihood is coming this way.”
“Shit,” I say as I see Anika walking toward us.
“Damn she looks good.”
I could’ve sworn I responded, but I guess I didn’t because Jordana smacks me on the cheek.
“Cody, you’re drooling.”
I ignore her and shake off the effect Anika has on me. “She looks okay.” I want to smack my damn self in the face for saying that.
“Oh please. I never knew how fucking stubborn you were, Cody. Are you seriously going to hold off on forgiving the hottest girl dumb enough to sleep with you?”
Even though it is an insult, I think about it as Anika gets near us.
“Hey Jordana… Cody.”
“Anika.” I look for too long, mentally screenshotting the way she looks now in this silver glittery gown. Her hair is pinned up and she has on this diamond necklace and earrings and she just shines – literally. My heart just can’t stop beating for her and my stomach feels woozy. But she lied to me. She used me. How can I forgive her?
“A lot of these guys here want to dance with me. Being the little sister of the richest woman in here I guess turns them on.”
“Yeah, money plus good looks get them up to the core. Especially since marrying you would be marrying your sister’s goldmine,” Jordana says before sipping on her champagne.
“Exactly.” Anika laughs a little, looking at me. “But… I don’t wanna dance with them.”
I want to dance with her too. I keep my ground though, and the disappointment in her face makes me believe she will give up until I see my parents. “Just great.”
“Hi, sweetie,” my mom says. “Jordana, good to see you, sweetie.”
“You too Mr. and Mrs. Nichols.” Jordana smiles at my parents and then gets that scary gleam on her face she always gets when she wants to mess with me. “Have you met Cody’s friend? Anika Dale… also known as the little sister of Karlie Fairchild.”
I’m gonna kill her. My mom’s smile goes as far as I would love to throw Jordana.
“Well, Cody, you didn’t tell us that.” My mom rubs my shoulder and my dad winks at me in approval.
“You are a beautiful sight,” my dad says.
“Thank you.” Anika gladly accepts his compliment.
“You guys don’t recognize her?” I ask them and they look lost. “She’s the waitress. Every time we go to Le Amor, she serves us.”
“Oh my God.” It registers to my mom. “You are.”
“Yes, mam,” Anika nervously confirms.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why work at the restaurant? Surely your sister helps you?”
“Uh, yes. She does. Pays for my schooling at Columbia, but I never wanted to depend entirely on her. I grew up in Queens and my whole life hard work, dedication, and independence was needed to shape your character, and I would like to keep that to balance no matter how blessed my family has become.”
Shit. She might as well throw herself a parade because right now my parents are practically leading the marching band in her honor.
“Actually, I wanted to see if Cody wanted to dance?”
“Nah, I’m good,” I quickly say.
“He’s kidding. Cody would love to dance with you,” my mom says and Jordana snickers.
“Mom.”
“Cody Edward Nichols.” My mother is still smiling through the stern tone as she leans into me while my dad further compliments Anika. “Boy, you better dance.” Her whisper is harsh and she smiles back at Anika. “Hope to see you very soon, Anika.”
We watch as my parents walk off but not too far. They’re making sure I make due on their order.
“Well, seems like you fit in nicely with our wonderful group,” Jordana says.
“Thank you,” Anika smiles proudly and I reluctantly follow her to the dance floor.
ANIKA
“When my sister came back, it was the day I thought things would change for the better, but really it just added complications along with a few blessings,” I say to him as we dance.
“That’s nice.” He brushes it off and shakes his head. “I can’t believe my parents.” We look at his parents who are smiling at us, probably planning our wedding or seeing what our kids would look like. “I was so scared to tell them about you… and to think if you would’ve been truthful to begin with we could’ve avoid them meeting you now… because it’s a waste of time.”
“Did you hear what I just said though? About my sister and whatnot?”
“Yes. I heard and I don’t know what you want from me, Anika.”
My patience is really starting to wear thin with this boy.
“I want you.” I just say it. “I want you, Cody. I’ve always wanted you. You are one of the few blessings that have come out of this. Can’t you see that?”
His face softens. “I get that, but… and it’s hard for a guy to admit this, but… sex with you… it meant the world to me and I really just thought after that night we were going to be something special.”
“We still can be. Cody… I’m sorry, but at some point you need to grow up. I’m not gonna keep apologizing for doing what I thought was right. This wasn’t just about you. This was about my family. This was even about me because what happened to Karlie affected me too. Do you think this is easy being in the same room as the people who destroyed my sister?” I make sure to lower my voice. “It’s not. You judge Hugo and your friends, but if you ask me, you got it better than them. At least your parents love you. No one’s perfect, Cody. No one. Not even you. You’re stubborn, you whine too much and you’re insecure… but I like you… a lot. Maybe even more than I should, and I really want to see where this goes.” I break away from him stopping the dance. “I ‘m a damn good person. I know I am and you are lucky to have me, and I am lucky to have you. So if you want this… if you want to not go through being set up by your parents with girls you have no interest in for the rest of your twenties, then I suggest man up and just… just man up.”
I walk away before he can respond out of fear of just more rejection. I’d rather just give him time and hope for the best because I want this. I want this more than anything.
JORDANA
“Hi, Jordana.” That voice goes through my head every day. It’s like an echo that won’t go away. Please let it be an echo this time. “You look beautiful.” It’s not. I take my eyes away from a pitiful looking Cody, who probably just got owned by Anika, and face my own demons in the form of Margaret Jacobs. My MJ.
“Jacobs.” I keep my eyes on her face and not on that blue dress she’s wearing. Its conservative but still she makes it look sexy.
“I’ve texted you.”
“I know.”
“You haven’t texted me back.”
“Well, you did end things. You wanted it to end, so there was no need.”
“Usually you don’t listen when I end it.”
“Well, MJ, when you pour your heart out and get rejected, it tends to put a damper on things… or so I’m told.”
She laughs a little. “I’ve always loved it when you called me MJ.”
“Even during sex? When you were kissing me… on every inch of my body?” I glide my tongue across my bottom lip as she h
olds her breath stunned at me fucking with her.
“Yes.” I’m surprised. I figured she would run away, but the yes is basically an invitation to take her to the bathroom right now. I shouldn’t do it, but temptation is a hell of a thing.
“Sweetheart, there you are.” Steven Jacobs is like a puddle of rain you want to avoid stepping in. The splash is too big.
“Dad. Mom.” Margaret looks guilty now. “You know Jordana Abbott.”
“Yes. The free spirit girl.” I arch my brow and smirk at Jacob’s term for me. His wife is looking very stoic as usual.
“Oh come on, Mr. Jacobs, let’s not be modest. You can go ahead and say lesbian. Or maybe dyke. I think the term you really want to use is faggot, but that term is only for gay young men, but I’m sure either way it’s the same to you.”
“My dear, your sickness is only of your world, not mine. No need for me to point out the truth in obscene terms.”
“We might come from two different worlds… but it’s all in the same galaxy.” I glance at Margaret who begins to choke on her glass of champagne.
“Mom. Dad. Can we please just go?” she says back.
“Margaret, no interrupting,” Steven quickly says and my blood boils.
“My, Mr. Jacobs, what big chauvinist tendencies you have. I’ll go. Margaret and I were just thinking back to old times in school.” I look at her… and I let her see the pain in my eyes one more time. Wanting her to know she’s won. Wanting her to feel guilty. Hoping she will stop my heart from breaking more. “Too bad they are just a distant memory. Good luck with life.”
I walk away and mentally tell myself, Do not fucking cry. God do I hate women.
HUGO
“Are you out of your damn mind?” my father tries not to yell too loudly at me.
“You probably should’ve asked me that when I was fifteen.”
“You think this is a game?” He’s trying to keep his voice down as party guests close by turn their heads at us. “That girl is trouble.”
“Trouble why? Oh yeah, trouble as in the girl Gabriel fell for whose rape you helped cover up.”
My comment sparks the urge for him to come closer to me. His fists tight and his stare sharp. “I want you to think before you speak again.”
Reckless Karma (Sinners & Saints #2) Page 7